Love

Love is two pairs of footprints

Impressed in the sand.

Will you ever walk beside me

And together go home?

Love is sunlight that makes

A flower turn its way.

Do you promise always

To be a light for my soul?

~~~~~~~

I am your enthusiasm

That helps you learn a new thing.

I am your hand mirror

Beholding you on a bright morning.

I am your sandals

That caress your soft soles.

I am a whispered prayer

Hanging while you doze.

I am your blanket

Keeping you warm at night.

I am your luck that flies by day

To make things go right.

I am the one in your life

Who stays near and keeps you -

If only you knew.

~~~~~~~

Two streams that converge

And flow inextricably

Are like two lovers

Meandering about who meet -

Not knowing anything of what

They were missing before

But now having full sight

Each of the other -

Who rejoice at the freshet

And meld and flow as one

Assured of their fate

And their continual love.

~~~~~~~

Thy being's grace

Is pleasant to behold -

As beautiful as

The jacaranda

When its blooms

On some April day unfold.

Blessed be the one

Who keeps thy aura.

~~~~~~~

Gravity between us

Is forever pulling;

Where the one lover goes -

The other tags along

For since the day we met -

The universe implied

That my heart and your heart

Were set to collide.

Whatever happens -

The orbit dictates

We go and our hands

Are locked for always.

If we are flung abroad -

We will be a twain

Of rogue planets brought

Together again.

~~~~~~~

Love is many, Water is many

And flows aplenty

But Fire is one

And consumes until gone

All but purity.

If to each other we belong

And we're to stay strong

Then feel the fever

And douse with ether;

Purify the bond.

~~~~~~~

MEMORIES

Memories are many, my heart is full

Of gladness for the love I found in you

Love that we manifested and forged true.

You are my anthem, upright and faithful.

Our love is envied by watchful lovers

And mysterious to all except us.

We steadfast run the course of love and thus

You are the sweetness that this life offered

But if the veil of death covers me first

And the air of separation grows cold

Go and seek love again, as I've foretold.

Lest remembrance cause you an aching heart

It's better that you live well and are free

To love once more than be shackled to me.

~~~~~~~

Venus rages brightly tonight

But the night is thick with shame.

It doesn't cool my round thoughts

Nor hold my soul to the flame.

Some things just can't be said;

Neither can they be helped.

These things should be weathered -

And through it all - be felt.

Pieces of me - I try to collect

Before they can fall away

And I guard them - resolute

That something of those remain.

~~~~~~~

Happy eyes do not need the sun

For they, like yours, have a light of their own –

A cutting light the demons shun

That confesses to a kind, ageless soul.

Brown upon brown, they draw me in;

I can't look away nor could I leave

One who burns with a burning passion –

With an innocence I dare not displease

And when I look into your eyes –

My loneliness is burnt to a dry ember.

I know your happiness derives

From within and they who see remember.

Shine for others, shine for me

But don't forget that they're mine to own –

Mine to write of with jealousy;

Your eyes alone are worthy of a poem.

~~~~~~~

You can no more catch the sun

Than I can command the rain

Yet love is an experience

Worthy of anguish for gain.

~~~~~~~

LOVE ME

Love me tender, love me strong.

Love me with wine and song

On a hillside all the day long.

Love me with a joke or two

With stories of people you knew.

Love me until night releases you.

Confide in me all that you fear.

Whisper words as you draw near

Words you know I long to hear.

Death, that sting, be accursed!

Love me for what life is worth

And know that I loved you first.

~~~~~~~

PANTOUM #2

Sealed with a kiss –

Our union is a circle;

Love, Laughter, Friendship

In motion centripetal.

Our union is a circle;

That ring of passion

In motion centripetal

Is neverending.

That ring of passion

Given unto us in prayer

Is neverending –

One vow, Two hearts.

Given unto us in prayer:

Love, Laughter, Friendship –

One vow, Two hearts –

Sealed with a kiss.

~~~~~~~

On wisps of hope alone -

Love cannot soar

For hope quickly goes -

Returning at some hour.

It needs a pair of wings

To up and away

When it seems resigned

To an uncertain fate.

It needs a fresh wind

Flowing strong yet soft -

Once and again -

Bearing love aloft.

It needs a prayer or so

For when trials arise -

A work of the Holy Ghost

And faith might suffice.

I'm a beast of the field

And you - a crane.

Spare me, love, a wing

So I can meet you halfway.

~~~~~~~

If ever we tarry apart a spell

Because circumstance conspired with fate

Remember all our days for your heart's sake;

Remember and wear a little smile.

Keep it as one would a given token

Until in flesh we unite once again.

~~~~~~~

Our union is stronger than we -

Measuring twofold -

And moves in the world.

Prithee, therefore -

Take it on with me.

~~~~~~~

Last night remains a scent

Remembered at slow length –

Drawn from the air, lingering about –

A secret kept under my breath.

The union of your soft lips

Upon mine – warm and precious –

Mixed with your fingertips

Touching my arms were luxurious.

Your flirting, like your words, stumbled –

Became nervous on cue.

Your eyes – brown like truffles –

Were delicious to my view.

Yes, above all else, your eyes

Are what I remember.

Let me kiss your eyes shut tonight

So that they might sleep better.

~~~~~~~

The fold lifts - he's there in the mist

And the world tumbles aside.

We come together and meet lips

As Night's stars fill our eyes.

It's a world of two - two in the world.

The rush - the fire of his touch

Enshroud us as a cocoon would

And it's everything we want.

The fold suddenly lifts again -

A secret knowledge now in its stead.

I face the garish morning sun

With a smile - though twisted.

~~~~~~~

How they stop us dead

With a look of shame -

Not knowing that what

We have is from God.

Love's mystery,

Who can fully explain?

They would prefer to hate

Without a thought.

~~~~~~~

You stole me from a castle

My defiant vassal.

We went butterflyback riding

Into wind that sounded like sighing.

They put us down on a hill when

We felt like walking the glen.

We sat by a river of gold

And talked as the river flowed.

I wished for rain and it came

And in its midst, we played.

Where a rainbow met the ground

The beam, we danced around.

Before it could diminish

I gave you a chocolate kiss

And ours is a fairytale romance

That, to this day, still enchants.

~~~~~~~

He has a gift little perceived –

A mind for temperament and thoughts.

That he is one of privilege

Is both natural and mysterious.

Such witchcraft to them of fright

Puts them to good reactions –

Harmless to a passer-by –

Helpful to a set of events.

It was taught by a Master –

His mind is only existence.

We walk about – caught unawares –

Then he finishes my sentence

And with the magic he has –

He twists the day as we go.

For that I could kiss his head –

It impresses me so.

~~~~~~~

My heart is an empty jardiniere

Receptive to flowers and affection.

By your wayward glances, I could swear

There is a festering attraction

But speak up bravely; be not passive

And may we start a journey called love.

~~~~~~~

A CHANCE MEETING

What made you first look upon me

Makes me joyful in my heart

For you saw something that could be.

What made you first look upon me

Is what the others couldn't see

And since that moment we haven't part.

What made you first look upon me?

It makes me joyful in my heart.

It makes me joyful in my heart

Could it have been my eyes as blue

As a clear sky at summer's start.

What was it that pulled at your heart?

Could it have been my voice as sharp

As a clarinet tuned anew?

It makes me joyful in my heart

Could it have been my eyes so blue.

Could it have been my eyes so blue

That were all you ever needed

Or was it that my heart proved true?

Could it have been my eyes so blue

That my love you chose to pursue?

If not for the kind words I seeded

Might it have been my eyes so blue

That were all you ever needed?

~~~~~~~

For yet another moment -

I joined him and endured

A brief conversation

And hints of a subtle nature.

I sometimes meet his eyes

Contemplatively -

Where love often lies -

But don't know what it means.

He effortlessly -

More than ever - exerts

A strong pull upon me

And my evasive heart.

God speed His favor;

Protect me from deceit

So I can know for sure

That he's authentic.

~~~~~~~

If you crush my foot

With your worthy sandal

It would be sweet abuse.

Indeed, the smell of your sweat

Wafting would be

As expensive perfume.

Maybe my nose and foot

Can speak with you

And come to a truce.

~~~~~~~

Along the way

Birds whistle a tune

As if to set a mood

But I know not what to say.

The figure slowly thickens

In the distance;

My heart beats fast –

My gait quickens.

From a dry rut

He approaches

And opens the conversation

One eye shut.

~~~~~~~

After making love

I lay my head upon your chest

To hear your heartbeat;

You are delicately built

But wonderfully alive.

Your skin is like satin

Draping across my fingers

As a blanket would but better;

Let me lay in your warmth

'Til the evening's end.

~~~~~~~

MIDNIGHT

Seizuring so as if escaping from fright

You awoke suddenly around midnight

Then rolled over, meeting my body halfway

By habit, drew nearer and kissed me straight away.

Your cheek, always soft, nestled against mine.

Your wandering hand came to rest upon my thigh.

In my ear, your breath came like wind rushing.

By the touch of your tepid skin, I sensed flushing.

My eyes perused you in the moonlight

Convincing me for a moment that all was right.

You fell again to sleep peacefully it seemed

Perhaps to dream that time a pleasant dream.

~~~~~~~

Often conversation carries

Us through the day

For talking about things is

Basic to an alliance

Yet at other times, we survive

A comfortable presence

Where the air is thick with love –

Nothing need be said.

~~~~~~~

You want to requite my love;

You already have with a ring

And many years of life

So this I command you to bring:

A bouquet of chocolate flowers –

Each with a nice, dark button

Comparable to your eyes –

And a fragrance as divine.

Put it together with care –

Tape it inconspicuously –

Present it when I'm caught unawares

And you have hours to give me.

Such a bouquet – bright and simple –

As native as the mourning dove –

Would be a challenge worthwhile

Your time and your love.